Valentine Mines A Short Story

Valentine Mines

By: S.B.

Jack and his brother, Steve, were headed out the door when their mom called for them. Jack and Steve hollered, "Yes mother."

“Don’t forget to take your sleeping bags," she said.

“Ok mom, bye, love you," said Jack.

When the boys walked out they saw their girlfriends sitting in the car. Steve was dating, Britney Riley. Jack was dating, Cynthia James. When the men go and get in the car Cynthia hollered, “Let’s do it!" As the car backed out of the driveway their mom waved out the window. Britney asked, “Where are we going?"

Jack said, "It's a surprise."

Steve was driving for about two hours. As they pulled into a gas station Jack got out to fill up the tank. Steve went in to pay and the girls went in to go to the restroom. When Jack got in the store Steve had paid for the gas and bought some food, drinks, and flashlights. Everyone loaded up and they were back on their adventure again.

When they got to the campsite, the girls had no idea where they were. Jack said, “Welcome to Camp Valentine, Northern Missouri." As Jack and, Steve, unloaded the car the girl went to find some firewood. As the sun went down over the hills the guys built a roaring fire. When the fire gets going the girls gets some dinner cooking while the guys go gather some more firewood. When the guys return dinner is done and the girls are sitting by the fire.

When dinner is finished the couples hit the sack. Jack tells everyone, “Tomorrow they are going on a hike." In the morning Jack is up before everyone. By the time everyone else gets out of bed Jack has already packed all of the hiking gear into the packs. The girls put some breakfast on the fire. After everyone is finished the couples head out on the adventure.

As the couples climb higher and higher they find this small town. The kids decide to stop into the tavern. While in there someone says the word "valentine". This old man begins telling a story.

The old man said, “About twenty years ago men were down in the mine. The supervisors were so ready to go home they left. The men had forgotten to check the methane gas levels. By the time the miners knew what was going on it was too late. The methane had already ignited causing a huge explosion and cave in. Though it was a flabbergasting explosion the men were still alive. It took six days for the miners to dig through to the men. When they got to the men everyone was dead except for one man, Jack Valentine. Jack Valentine had turned to cannibalism. The most suspicious thing was that all the other men were killed not from suffocation but, a pick-axe. Jack was sent to a mental health facility for a year. While he was in there he went into a coma. No one believed he would wake up from it. When he did he went on a rampage killing twenty-two people with a pick-axe. Most had their heart cut out and put in a Valentine candy box. While in the mine it collapsed. The men dug through and they saw him running down the mine. He was laughing in a very hysterical fashion. After that the killing’s stopped. The town believed he was dead.”

Although the kids did not believe the story the thought it was interesting. They asked the man where the old mine was. He told them it was up on the mountain side. As the kids exited the tavern the man pleaded for them never to go into the mine. As normal kids would do they did not believe him.

The kids got in their car and drove to the mine.

When they got there the mine was closed. Even though the mine was closed it didn’t stop the adventurous teenagers from exploring. They found some old tunnel lights and flashlights. The kids entered through Tunnel No. 5. The light switch was right inside the tunnel door. As the couples go deeper into the mine the air gets thinner and thinner. The couples reach the room where the cave in had occurred. As the kids looked around Steve finds a pick-axe.

Britney tells him to,”Put the pick-axe down before you get hurt.”

“Ok honey”, says Steve.

As they go deeper things begin to start getting creepy. Beams begin to squeak and moan. Rocks begin to fall off of the sides of the tunnel. They decide it is time to leave. As they begin their ascent back up the tunnel a figure is seen out of Steve’s eyes. He turns to look at the figure and it is gone. Now, Steve is getting very confused and worried. He begins to rush them out of the mine. As they reach the exit Steve sees the same figure again. Now the figure is moving closer and closer to them. As Steve shines his flashlight at the figure he becomes aware the figure is a miner in full gear and with a pick-axe. Steve has a sigh of relief.

Steve believes the miner is just an employee. In one quick instance the miner swings his pick-axe hitting Steve in the side of his stomach. As Steve screams in agonizing pain the miner hits him again this time in his head killing him instantly. This sprays Jack with his own brother’s blood. Jack screams in terror of what has just happened to his brother. As Jack and the girls run to their car the miner walks out of the mine throwing a pick-axe just missing Jack.

When the kids get to the town they run into the grocery store screaming for help. No one understands what is going on. The town’s people believe this is just a prank so; no one pays any attention to them. Since everyone is ignoring them they decide to run out to their car and try leaving. Little do they know the car is almost out of gas?

When they get to the gas station Jack begins to fill up the car. When he goes in to pay he finds the cashier dead with a gaping hole in his chest and, his heart missing. Jack turns around and down the aisle is the miner. As Jack runs out to the car the girls scream. Jack starts to drive and the car begins to die. The car completely stops right in front of the mine. Jack runs into the mine to find his brother. Jack finds his brother with his heart cut out of his chest. There is a pool of warm red blood surrounding his brother’s body.

When Jack exits the mine he sees the miner about to kill Britney. Jack hollers at the miner. The miner looks back at Jack then as Jack walks toward him the miner swings the pick-axe hitting Britney in the neck making her begin to cough and choke on her own blood. This sprays Cynthia with Britney’s blood. As Cynthia screams Jack runs up and begins fighting with the miner. Jack punches the miner but it doesn’t seem to faze him. As the miner razes his pick-axe, Jack kicks him. The miner stumbles backwards. As Jack stumbles up to his feet, the miner runs at Cynthia. “No!” Jack yells. This gets the miners attention. As Jack runs toward the miner, the miner swings his pick-axe clipping Jack’s right shoulder. When Jack finally hits the miner, it knocks the miner to the ground. Jack and Cynthia run into the mine shaft.

When they get into the mine the lights are still on. Jack and Cynthia find a hiding place behind an old wooden beam. Jack finds a pick-axe under some old rubble. As he grabs the pick-axe the miner walks into the tunnel. Jack tells Cynthia no matter what happens, do not scream.

As Jack goes to confront the miner, Cynthia finds a shovel to protect herself. A Jack and the miner look face to face at one another there is an eerie silence in the mine. The miner is the first one to attack. Jack deflects the strong blow from the miner. Jack quickly counters the attack. This time Jack hits the miner, piercing his dark soot strait into his arm. This still does not seem to face the miner. Now Jack is the one getting hit. The miner swings the pick-axe hitting Jack’s side, puncturing one of his lungs. Jack falls to the ground gasping for air, in a pool of his own blood. The miner walks over to Cynthia. Cynthia does not scream the miner plunges the pick-axe deep into her chest.

Now every year Jack comes back. He waits in the shadow of the mine. He waits for people who unknowingly venture into his domain. A place where there is more than one way to lose your heart.